Method and kit for following neurodegenerative diseases

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a method for detecting and supervising neurodegenerative diseases, which consists in detecting the presence of antibodies of the A-isotype and/or M-isotype which are directed against the antigens which are associated with these diseases. 
     The invention also relates to a kit for the implementation of this method.

This application is a National Stage application under 35 USC 371 of PCT/FR02/00927, with an international filing date of Mar. 15, 2002.

A subject of the present invention is a method and a kit for the supervision of neurodegenerative diseases.

The invention can notably be applied in the medical field and in the immunological field.

Despite the immense medical progress over the last fifty years, a certain number of diseases, which are known for a long time or which are of recent appearance, remain strictly speaking incurable, despite a significant cost for Public Health. Neurodegenerative diseases may in particular be cited, such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease, auto-immune diseases, hepatites, degenerative and inflammatory rheumatisms including rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

In these diseases, the nosological diagnosis is given, certain mechanisms and stages of the lesion process are known, symptomatic treatments are given, which are often very expensive, but the results are not at the height of expectations.

Multiple sclerosis is a multilocular demyelinising pathology of the central nervous system which affects the white matter of the brain and of the spinal cord, and which is a very highly disabling pathology of insidious and unpredictable progression.

In France, MS affects 1 individual per 1000 in full maturity (40 to 60 cases for 100,000 inhabitants), i.e. 50,000 French people, and 2,000 new cases are to be counted every year. 2 million cases are counted in the world.

The disease begins in the young adult, between 15 and 50 years old (between 20 and 40 years old in particular). Its incidence is twice as much in the woman as in the man.

MS has three distinct clinical forms: remittent, progressive and remittent progressive.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Charcot's disease is a neurological disease of rapid progression and of unknown aetiology. The disease is characterised by a degenerative attack of the motor neurones of the brain, of the cerebral trunk and of the anterior horn of the spinal cord, whereas the sensory neurones are not affected and whereas the intellectual functions remain intact, leaving the patients fully conscious of the progression of their disease and of the deterioration of their functional capacities.

The prevalence of ALS is equal to that of MS. It is five times higher than that of Huntington's disease. More ill people die every year from ALS than from MS or Huntington's disease.

ALS occurs most often between 45 and 70 years old, affecting 1.5 to 2 times more men than women. The disease concerns subjects which are younger and younger: cases exist having early beginning before 40 years old.

Its incidence, i.e. the number of new cases each year, has a tendency to increase in the world for an unknown reason. In France, there would be 5 to 10,000 persons affected, and about 1,100 new cases appear every year.

The progression of this disease is dramatic, and is always fatal. It proceeds towards a progressive aggravation, with an installation of a bedridden state and of a respiratory insufficiency through attack of the intercostal and diaphragm musculature, which rapidly leads to death (in 3 to 5 years).

ALS has a progressive clinical heterogeneity which leads a biological heterogeneity to be considered.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), formerly called atrophic arthritis, is a progressive chronic polyarthritic inflammatory disease which is responsible for osteocartilaginous damage, which leads to a painful functional impotence through deformation and ankylosis.

It is therefore a potentially severe disease which causes a significant handicap in over half the patients, 10 years after the beginning of the symptoms, and reduces their life expectancy by several years.

Its prevalence in France would be about 1%: it is the most frequent chronic inflammatory rheumatism. It affects 7,000 new individuals per annum, affecting more often women who are still young.

Spondylarthritis (SAR) is a chronic rheumatic disease which manifests itself by a lumbosacral attack which leads to a progressive ankylosis. This immunological and inflammatory disease is linked to an over-expression of the histocompatibility antigen B27 (found in 90% of cases).

The significance of these diseases both from the point of view of the number of persons affected, and the cost to Public Health, is therefore not negligible.

Hitherto, no biological test exists for evaluating the stage and/or for foreseeing the progression of these diseases. Only a clinical examination, optionally completed by additional examinations, enables the diagnosis of these diseases to be made. A real need therefore does exist to be able to have a specific progressive diagnostic test at one's disposal which can palliate the insufficiencies of the clinic.

FIG. 1 is a box-plot representation of the results obtained from the quantification of immune complexes detected with 4 antigens tested according to the invention (NO2Tyr, NO-Trp, Ach and lg16) in the serum from patients having each form of MS (i.e. progressive form (P), remittent form (R) and remittent progressive form (RP) compared with that of controls). In such a graphic representation, the ratio conventionally corresponds to: (OD of a patient−average OD of controls)/standard deviation from OD of controls.

FIG. 2 is a box-plot representation of the results obtained from the quantification of immune complexes detected with 21 antigens tested in the serum from patients having class 1 of ALS compared with that of controls.

FIG. 3 is a box-plot representation of the results obtained from the quantification of immune complexes detected with 21 antigens tested in the serum from patients having class 2 of ALS compared with that of controls.

FIG. 4 is a box-plot representation of the results obtained from the quantification of immune complexes detected with 21 antigens tested in the serum from patients having class 3 of ALS compared with that of controls.

The Applicant has demonstrated that the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases was associated with antigen modifications, which are integrated by immunocompetent cells, manifesting itself by the production of circulating antibodies of the A-isotype and/or M-isotype. These antibodies are directed against the antigens indicated in Table 1 below, showing the antigen modifications and the bacterial factors which participate in the chronicity of these diseases:

TABLE 1 Isotype of the Antigens Origin antibody Fatty acids (palmitic, oleic, Endogenous compounds M myristic acids) linked by amide bond Farnesyl Cysteine Phosphatidylinositol Acetylcholine Azelaic acid Modified endogenous M compound (amide bond) Malondialdehyde residue product very reactive with M endogenous constituents NO-Cysteine Endogenous constituents M NO-Tyrosine modified by ·NO and ROE NO-Tryptophan (reactive oxygen species) NO-Histidine NO2-Tyrosine NO-Phenylalanine NO-Arginine NO-Asparagine NO-Methionine NO-Creatine NO-Bovine Serum Albumin bacterial antigens 3 (Ig3) Hafnia alvei A or M bacterial antigens 5 (Ig5) Pseudomonas aeruginosa A or M bacterial antigens 12 (Ig12) Morganella morganii A or M bacterial antigens 13 (Ig13) Proteus mirabilis A or M bacterial antigens 16 (Ig16) Pseudomonas putida A or M bacterial antigens 17 (Ig17) Citrobacter diversus A or M bacterial antigens 19 (Ig19) Klebsiella pneumoniae A or M

The detection of these antibodies can therefore enter within the context of a general diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases, and the supervision of these diseases.

Such a method of detecting these antibodies in a biological fluid can comprise the following steps:

-   -   placing said fluid in contact with each one of the following         antigens: Pal, Ole, Myr, Pl, MDA, Ach, FarCys, Aze, NO-Cys,         NO-Tyr, NO-Trp, NO-His, NO2-Tyr, NO-Phe, NO-Arg, NO-Asn, NO-Met,         NO-Cr, NO-BSA, Ig3, Ig5, Ig12, Ig13, Ig16, Ig17, Ig19 and     -   revelation of the complexes which are optionally formed between         said antigens and the corresponding antibodies.

As is indicated in Table 1, when the presence is detected of an antibody directed against a bacterial antigen “Ig”, this antibody can be of the A-isotype and/or of the M-isotype.

Non-bacterial antigens other than bovine serum albumin, which is optionally nitrosylated, are advantageously conjugated.

The term “conjugated antigen” is understood in the sense of the present invention to be an antigen (such as Pal, FarCys, NO-Cys, etc.) which is coupled to a carrier molecule, preferably bovine serum albumin, either directly or via glutaraldehyde or glutaric anhydride. Such a coupling is made in a manner well-known to the person skilled in the art, e.g. as described in Boullerne et al., 1995, 1996; Geffard et al., 1998.

The bacterial antigens are obtained by sonication of cultures of the bacteria indicated in Table 1.

The biological fluid can be, in particular: a serum, a plasma, total blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid.

The method implemented can advantageously be of the “sandwich” type.

The complexes which are optionally formed can be revealed with the aid of an A or M anti-human immunoglobulin antibody, which is coupled to a label, e.g. a fluorescent label, the biotin/streptavidine system, a (radio)isotopic element, or an enzyme.

The method in accordance with the invention is advantageously carried out with the aid of a suitable solid support.

Any device can be used as a solid support which is adapted to the manipulation of cell suspensions and, preferably, tubes, particular magnetic supports or rigid or flexible microtitration plates of polyethylene, polystyrene, poly(vinyl chloride) or nitrocellulose, comprising microwells.

When a pre-activated microtitration plate is used which has NH2 termini, it is not necessary to “couple” the antigens to a carrier molecule.

The expression “an antibody coupled to a (radio)isotopic element” signifies that the antibody carries, either on an element proper of its structure, e.g. the constituent tyrosine residues, or on an appropriate radical which has been fixed to it, a radioactive isotope enabling it to be determined by counting of the radioactivity which is associated with it.

When the antibody is coupled to an enzyme, this, associated with the use of appropriate reagents, enables a quantitative measurement of this antibody.

The substrate and the reagents are selected so that the final product of the reaction or of the sequence of reactions caused by the enzyme and using these substances be:

-   -   a coloured or fluorescent substance which diffuses into the         liquid medium surrounding the cells and which is the subject of         the final spectrophotometric or fluorimetric measurement,         respectively, or     -   an insoluble coloured substance which is deposited on the cells         and the walls on which they are fixed and which can be the         subject, either of a photometric measurement by reflection, or         of a visual evaluation, optionally in comparison to a range of         standard tints.

When a radio-isotopic element is used, such as 125 iodine for example, the radioactivity associated with the sample is counted in a gamma counter according to any appropriate means.

When an enzyme is used, the appearance of a coloured or fluorescent product is obtained by adding to the solid support a solution which contains the substrate of the enzyme and one or more additional reagents enabling either a coloured product which is soluble in the medium, or an insoluble coloured product, or a soluble fluorescent product, as has been explained above, to be finally obtained. The light signal originating from the thus-treated samples is then measured with the aid of an apparatus which is adapted to each case: a transmission or reflection photometer, or fluorimeter, respectively. When the solid support is a microtitration plate, the reading of the light signal can be made sequentially in all the wells of the same plate by the use of usual automated readers which are common in biology laboratories.

Alkaline phosphatase can be used as enzyme, the preferential substrates of which are para-nitrophenylphosphate for a final spectrophotometric reading, or 4-methyl umbelliferylphosphate for a fluorimetric reading, or 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolylphosphate for obtaining an insoluble coloured reaction product. β-galactosidase can similarly be used as enzyme the preferential substrate of which is ortho-nitrophenyl-β-D-galactopyranoside.

Preferably, the anti-Ig antibodies can be conventionally coupled to peroxidase. The reagents used to reveal the peroxidase conjugated to the anti-Ig antibodies contains hydrogen peroxide, which is a substrate of the enzyme, and an appropriate chromogen, e.g. ortho-phenylenediamine, 3,3′-diaminobenzidine or TMB (3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine) in order to obtain an insoluble final reaction product, or even para-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid in order to obtain a fluorescent reaction product which is soluble in the medium. The colourimetric reaction is stopped with sulphuric acid.

Another preferred embodiment of the invention is the use of anti-immunoglobulin antibodies which are coupled to acetylcholinesterase.

Acetylcholinesterase is coupled to the antibody by preferably using a method which is derived from the one described in French patent No. 2,550,799, or a method which schematically comprises the preparation of fragments of the antibody by a known technique, the modification of the enzyme by reaction with an appropriate heterobifunctional agent, and, finally, the coupling of the products thus obtained.

The revelation of the enzyme activity is preferably made according to the well-known technique which makes use of acetylthiocholine as substrate of the enzyme and Ellman's reagent, or 5,5′-dithio-2-nitrobenzoic acid, as chromogen, according to any variant adapted to the case examined, e.g. the one described in Anal. Chem. 57 (1985) 1170–1173.

The chromogens cited are used as such or as water-soluble salts.

Another subject of the invention is a kit for the implementation of the method described above. This kit advantageously comprises:

-   -   each one of the following antigens: Pal, Ole, Myr, Pl, MDA, Ach,         FarCys, Aze, NO-Cys, NO-Tyr, NO-Trp, NO-His, NO2-Tyr, NO-Phe,         NO-Arg, NO-Asn, NO-Met, NO-Cr, NO-BSA, Ig3, Ig5, Ig12, Ig13,         Ig16, Ig17 and Ig19;     -   optionally at least one human anti-immunoglobulin antibody, of         the A-isotype and/or M-isotype, as defined above.

This kit can also comprise a suitable solid support.

This test notably enables:

-   -   establishing an early diagnosis of the disease, in particular in         persons at risk, and therefore to not create a delay in the         treatment of the disease;     -   supervising the progress of the disease, and therefore to be         able to adapt the treatment as a consequence.

The detection of the antibodies directed against the following antigens: PI, Ach, Aze, NO-Cys, NO-Tyr, NO-Trp, NO2-Tyr, NO-Asn, NO-Met, Ig5 (A-isotype antibody), Ig12 (A-isotype antibody and M-isotype antibody), Ig13 (A-isotype antibody), Ig16 (A-isotype antibody), Ig17 (M-isotype antibody) and Ig19 (A-isotype antibody), enables in particular the diagnosis of MS to be established. The quantification of the antibodies directed against the following antigens: NO2-Tyr, NO-Tyr, Ach and Ig16 (A-isotype antibody), enables discriminating the particular forms of MS (progressive, remittent, remittent progressive).

Similarly, the detection of the antibodies which are directed against the following antigens: Ole, Pl, MDA, Aze, NO-Cys, FarCys, Ig3 (A-isotype antibody and M-isotype antibody), Ig5 (A-isotype antibody), Ig12 (A-isotype antibody and M-isotype antibody), Ig13 (A-isotype antibody and M-isotype antibody), Ig16 (A-isotype antibody and M-isotype antibody), Ig17 (A-isotype antibody and M-isotype antibody), enables the diagnosis of ALS to be established and, as a function of the antibody titre, to differentiate the 3 classes of this disease.

The detection of the antibodies directed against the following antigens: Pal, Ole, Myr, Pl, MDA, FarCys, Aze, NO-Cys, NO-Phe, Ig3 (A-isotype antibody and M-isotype antibody), Ig5 (A-isotype antibody and M-isotype antibody), Ig12 (A-isotype antibody and M-isotype antibody), Ig13 (M-isotype antibody) and Ig19 (A-isotype antibody), enables the diagnosis of RA to be established.

In the description and the claims, the following abbreviations will be used:

BSA: bovine serum albumin

G: glutaraldehyde residue

GA: glutaric anhydride residue

PBS: phosphate buffer saline

OPD: ortho-phenylenediamine

H2O2: hydrogen peroxide

H2SO4: sulphuric acid

PI: phosphatidylinositol

CaCl2: calcium chloride

NaCl: sodium chloride

OD: optical density

HSA: human serum albumin

HSA-EA: human serum albumin on which ethylenediamine is attached

Ig: immunoglobulin

Ach: acetyl choline

Ole: oleic acid

Pal: palmitic acid

Myr: myristic acid

FarCys: Farnesyl cysteine

MDA: malondialdehyde

(neo-epitope resulting from lipoperoxidation)

(with R=protein)

NO-Cys: NO-cysteine

(neo-epitope due to nitrosylation of cysteine)

NO-Trp: NO-tryptophan

(neoepitope due to nitrosylation of tryptophan)

NO-Asn: NO-asparagine

(neoepitope due to nitrosylation of asparagine)

NO-Tyr: NO-tyrosine

(neoepitope due to nitrosylation of tyrosine)

NO2-Tyr: NO2-tyrosine

(neoepitope due to formation of peroxynitrite: NO+O2-)

NO-His: NO-histidine

(neoepitope due to nitrosylation of histidine)

NO-Phe: NO-phenylalanine

(neoepitope due to nitrosylation of phenylalanine)

NO-Met: NO-methionine

(neoepitope due to nitrosylation of methionine)

NO-Arg: NO-arginine

(neoepitope due to nitrosylation of arginine)

NO-Cr: NO-creatine

(neoepitope due to nitrosylation of creatine)

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the Sections and Examples below, which are given purely as an illustration.

Section 1: Assay of Anti-No-Cysteine Antibodies

A Maxisorp® microtitration plate comprising 96 wells is used which is marketed by the company MERCK-EUROLAB (POLYLABO). 10 μg/ml of a solution of NO-Cysteine-G-BSA conjugate (prepared according to the method described in Boullerne et al., 1995, 1996 and Geffard et al., 1998), in pH 9.6 carbonate buffer (reaction blanks: BSA-G), is placed per well for one night at +4° C. under stirring, in avoiding the exposure of the plate to the light. PBS buffer containing Tween®, 10% glycerol and 1 g/l of BSA is then added into the wells, so as to saturate the surface of the wells with protein, which is obtained after 1 h at 37° C. Rinsing is effected thrice with PBS.

The serum to be assayed, which is diluted to a 1/1000th in PBS buffer containing Tween®, 10% glycerol and 1 g/l of BSA-G, is then added, and incubation is implemented for 2 hours at 37° C.

A solution to a 1/5,000th of human anti-IgM antibodies (marketed by Sanofi Pasteur under the reference 75061), which are labelled with peroxidase, in PBS buffer containing Tween® and 1 g/l of BSA, is then added into the wells, and incubation is implemented for 1 hour at 37° C. The plate is rinsed thrice with PBS containing Tween®.

The wells are emptied by turning the plate over. Revelation reagent is added into each well (for 20 ml of citrate phosphate buffer, 10 μl of H₂O₂ (substrate of the enzyme) and 0.5 ml of 4% OPD are added) and the colouration is allowed to take place in the dark for 10 minutes. The reaction is stopped with 50 μl of 4N H₂SO₄, and the OD is read at 492 nm.

The results are then expressed with respect to a population of controls in the following way: Antibody titre=(OD serum−ODav. controls)/ODav. controls. Section 2: Assay of Anti-Phosphatidylinositol Antibodies

A Maxisorp® microtitration plate is used. 20 μg/ml of a coating solution is added per well (Faiderbe et al., 1990; Brochet et al., 1991), which solution is prepared from 20 ml of 10⁻²M phosphate buffer+10⁻³M CaCl₂, pH 7, and which is saturated with chloroform, to which are added 40 μl of the mother solution of phosphatidylinositol (marketed by SIGMA, reference P-5766), with a Hamilton syringe, and 100 μl of a hexane/chloroform (84/16) mixture, in order to allow the Pl to pass into solution (reaction blanks: BSA). The wells are vortexed until a white precipitate is obtained. The plate is then left for one night at 37° C. under stirring. The plate is dried in the oven for at least 30 minutes, and rinsing is effected thrice with PBS.

The serum to be assayed is then added, which is obtained in the following manner: the night before the assay, a pre-dilution of the serum ( 1/10th) is prepared in PBS buffer containing 27 g/l of NaCl, and stirring is effected at 4° C. overnight. Centrifugation is implemented for 15 minutes at 10,000 rpm. From the supernatant, dilution is made to a 1/50th (final dilution to a 1/500th in PBS buffer containing 10% of glycerol and 1 g/l of HSA-EA).

A solution to a 1/5,000th of human anti-IgM antibodies (SANOFI-PASTEUR, reference 75061), which are labelled with peroxidase, in PBS buffer containing Tween® and 1 g/l of BSA, is finally added to the wells, and incubation is implemented for 2 hours at 37° C. The plate is rinsed thrice with PBS containing Tween®.

The wells are emptied by turning the plate over. Revelation reagent is added into each well (for 20 ml of citrate phosphate buffer, 20 μl of H₂O₂ and 1 ml of 4% OPD, are added) and the colouration is allowed to take place in the dark for 10 minutes. The reaction is stopped with 50 μl of 4N H₂SO₄, and the OD is read at 492 nm.

The results are then expressed with respect to a population of controls in the following way: Antibody titre=(OD serum−ODav. controls)/ODav. controls. Section 3: Assay of Anti-Acetylcholine Antibodies

A Maxisorp microtitration plate is used. 10 μg/ml of a solution of choline-GA-BSA conjugate (prepared according to the method described in Souan et al., 1986), in pH 9.6 carbonate buffer (reaction blanks: BSA), is placed per well for one night at +4° C. under stirring. PBS buffer containing Tween®, 10% glycerol and 1 g/l of BSA-GA is then added into the wells, so as to saturate the surface of the wells with protein, which is obtained after 1 h at 37° C. Rinsing is effected thrice with PBS.

The serum to be assayed, which is diluted to a 1/1,000th in PBS buffer containing Tween® and 1 g/l of BSA-GA, is then added, and incubation is implemented for 2 hours at 37° C. The plate is rinsed thrice with PBS containing Tween®.

A solution to a 1/10,000th of human anti-IgM antibodies (SANOFI-PASTEUR, reference 75061), which are labelled with peroxidase, in PBS buffer containing Tween® and 1 g/l of BSA, is finally added into the wells, and incubation is implemented for 1 hour at 37° C. The plate is rinsed thrice with PBS containing Tween®.

The wells are emptied by turning the plate over. Revelation reagent is added into each well (for 20 ml of citrate phosphate buffer, 10 μl of H₂O₂ and 0.5 ml of 4% OPD are added) and the colouration is allowed to take place in the dark for 10 minutes. The reaction is stopped with 50 μl of 4N H₂SO₄, and the OD is read at 492 nm.

The results are then expressed with respect to a population of controls in the following way: Antibody titre=(OD serum−ODav. controls)/ODav. controls. Section 4: Assay of Anti-Azelaic Acid Antibodies

A Maxisorp microtitration plate is used. 10 μg/ml of a solution of Aze-BSA conjugate (prepared according to the method described in Daverat et al., 1989), in pH 9.6 carbonate buffer (reaction blanks: BSA), is placed per well for one night at +4° C. under stirring. PBS buffer containing Tween®, 10% glycerol and 1 g/l of HSA-EA, is then added into the wells, so as to saturate the surface of the wells with protein, which is obtained after 1 h at 37° C. Rinsing is effected thrice with PBS.

The serum to be assayed, which is diluted to a 1/500th in PBS buffer containing Tween®, 10% glycerol and 1 g/l of HSA-EA, is then added and incubation is implemented for 2 hours at 37° C. The plate is rinsed thrice with PBS containing Tween®.

A solution to a 1/10,000th of human anti-IgM antibodies (SANOFI-PASTEUR, reference 75061), which are labelled with peroxidase, in PBS buffer containing Tween® and 1 g/l of BSA, is finally added into the wells, and incubation is implemented for 1 hour at 37° C. The plate is rinsed thrice with PBS containing Tween®.

The wells are emptied by turning the plate over. Revelation reagent is added into each well (for 20 ml of citrate phosphate buffer, 10 μl of H₂O₂ and 0.5 ml of 4% OPD are added) and the colouration is allowed to take place in the dark for 10 minutes. The reaction is stopped with 50 μl of 4N H₂SO₄, and the OD is read at 492 nm.

The results are then expressed with respect to a population of controls in the following way: Antibody titre=(OD serum−ODav. controls)/ODav. controls. Section 5: Assay of Anti-Farnesol-Cysteine Antibodies

A Maxisorp® microtitration plate is used. 20 μg/ml of a solution of FarCys-BSA conjugate (prepared by activation of FarCys with ethyl chloroformate and then coupling with BSA according to the technique indicated for the fatty acids in Section 7, below) in pH 9.6 carbonate buffer (reaction blanks: BSA), are placed per well for one night at +4° C. under stirring. Rinsing is effected thrice with PBS. PBS buffer containing 27 g/l of NaCl and 2 g/l of de-lipidised BSA is then added into the wells, so as to saturate the surface of the wells with protein, which is obtained after 1 h at 37° C. Rinsing is effected thrice with PBS.

The serum to be assayed, which is diluted to a 1/250th in PBS buffer containing 27 g/l of NaCl and 2 g/l of de-lipidised BSA, is then added, and incubation is implemented for 2 hours at 37° C. Rinsing is effected thrice with PBS. A solution to a 1/5,000th of human anti-IgM antibodies (SANOFI-PASTEUR, reference 75061), which are labelled with peroxidase, in PBS buffer containing Tween® and 1 g/l of BSA, is finally added to the wells, and incubation is implemented for 1 hour at 37° C. The plate is rinsed thrice with PBS containing Tween®.

The wells are emptied by turning the plate over. Revelation reagent is added into each well (for 20 ml of citrate phosphate buffer, 20 μl of H₂O₂ and 1 ml of 4% OPD, are added) and the colouration is allowed to take place in the dark for 10 minutes. The reaction is stopped with 50 μl of 4N H₂SO₄, and the OD is read at 492 nm.

The results are then expressed with respect to a population of controls in the following way: Antibody titre=(OD serum−ODav. controls)/ODav. controls. Section 6: Assay of Anti-MDA Antibodies

A Maxisorp® microtitration plate is used. 80 μg/ml of a solution of MDA-BSA conjugate (prepared according to the method described in Amara et al., 1995) in pH 9.6 carbonate buffer (reaction blanks: BSA), is placed per well for one night at +4° C. under stirring. PBS buffer containing Tween®, 10% glycerol and 5 g/l of BSA is then added into the wells so as to saturate the surface of the wells with protein, which is obtained after 1 h at 37° C. Rinsing is effected thrice with PBS. The serum to be assayed, which is diluted to a 1/1,000th in PBS buffer containing Tween® and 5 g/l of BSA, is then added, and incubation is implemented for 2 hours at 37° C. Rinsing is effected thrice with PBS.

A solution to a 1/5,000th of human anti-IgM antibodies (SANOFI-PASTEUR, reference 75061), which are labelled with peroxidase, in PBS buffer containing Tween® and 5 g/l of BSA, is finally added into the wells and incubation is implemented for 1 hour at 37° C. The plate is rinsed thrice with PBS containing Tween®.

The wells are emptied by turning the plate over. Revelation reagent is added into each well (for 20 ml of citrate phosphate buffer, 10 μl of H₂O₂ and 0.5 ml of 4% OPD, are added) and the colouration is allowed to take place in the dark for 10 minutes. The reaction is stopped with 50 μl of 4N H₂SO₄, and the OD is read at 492 nm.

The results are then expressed with respect to a population of controls in the following way: Antibody titre=(OD serum−ODav. controls)/ODav. controls. Section 7: Assay of Anti-Fatty Acids Antibodies

A Maxisorp® microtitration plate is used. 50 μg/ml of a solution of Ole-BSA, Pal-BSA or Myr-BSA conjugate (which are prepared according to the method described in Maneta et al., 1987; Amara et al., 1994 a and b, Constans et al., 1995; Boullerne et al., 1996) in carbonate buffer containing 10⁻³M CaCl₂, pH 9.6 (reaction blanks: de-lipidised BSA), is placed per well for one night at +4° C. under stirring. Rinsing is effected thrice with PBS containing 10⁻³M CaCl₂.

The serum to be assayed, which is diluted to a 1/1000th in PBS buffer containing 10⁻³M CaCl₂ and 1 g/l of de-lipidised BSA, is then added, and incubation is implemented for 2 hours at 37° C. Rinsing is effected thrice with PBS containing 10⁻³M CaCl₂.

A solution to a 1/5,000th of human anti-IgM antibodies (SANOFI-PASTEUR, reference 75061), which are labelled with peroxidase, in SPB buffer containing 10⁻³M CaCl₂ and 1 g/l of de-lipidised BSA, is finally added to the wells, and incubation is implemented for 1 hour at 37° C. The plate is rinsed thrice with SPB containing Tween®.

The wells are emptied by turning the plate over. Revelation reagent is added into each well (for 20 ml of citrate phosphate buffer, 10 μl of H₂O₂ and 0.5 ml of 4% OPD, are added) and the colouration is allowed to take place in the dark for 10 minutes. The reaction is stopped with 50 μl of 4N H₂SO₄, and the OD is read at 492 nm.

The results are then expressed with respect to a population of controls in the following way: Antibody titre=(OD serum−ODav. controls)/ ODav. controls. Section 8: Assay of Anti-Bacterial Antigen Antibodies

A Maxisorp® microtitration plate is used. 34 μg/ml of bacterial antigen lysate, obtained by sonication of a culture of the corresponding bacterium (cf. Table 1), in pH 9.6 carbonate buffer (reaction blanks: BSA), is placed per well for one night at +4° C. under stirring. PBS buffer containing 5 g/l of BSA is then added into the wells, so as to saturate the surface of the wells with protein, which is obtained after 1 h at 37° C. Rinsing is effected thrice with PBS containing Tween®.

The serum to be assayed, which is diluted to a 1/500th in PBS buffer containing Tween® and 2.5 g/l of BSA, is then added, and incubation is implemented for 2 hours at 37° C. Rinsing is effected thrice with PBS containing Tween®.

A solution to a 1/5,000th of human anti-IgA or anti-IgM antibodies (SANOFI-PASTEUR, references 75041 and 75061), which are labelled with peroxidase, in PBS buffer containing Tween® and 2.5 g/l of BSA, is finally added into the wells, and incubation is implemented for 1 hour at 37° C. The plate is rinsed thrice with PBS containing Tween®.

The wells are emptied by turning the plate over. Revelation reagent is added into each well (for 20 ml of citrate phosphate buffer, 10 μl of H₂O₂ and 0.5 ml of 4% OPD, are added) and the colouration is allowed to take place in the dark for 10 minutes. The reaction is stopped with 50 μl of 4N H₂SO₄, and the OD is read at 492 nm.

The results are then expressed with respect to a population of controls in the following way: Antibody titre=(OD serum−OD_(av.) controls)/OD_(av.) controls.

EXAMPLE 1

Quantification of Circulating Antibodies in MS

Table 1 below groups the results of the immunoenzymatic tests carried out on a large number of subjects according to the method described in the preceding sections.

TABLE 1 conjugate n: MS/control p Pal 755/238 0.0095 Myr 730/234 0.0302 Ole 1399/226  0.0115 FarCys 718/235 <0.0001 Aze 1459/232  <0.0001 NOCys 1314/234  <0.0001 NOTyr 279/135 <0.0001 NO2Tyr 251/126 0.0067 NOTrp 288/148 <0.0001 NOMet 218/101 0.0022 NOHis 266/147 <0.0001 NOPhe 243/116 <0.0001 NOAsn 180/101 0.0092 NOArg 177/81  0.0033 NOBSA 264/135 0.6784 NOCr 108/46  0.0718 MDA 670/206 <0.0001 Ach 731/229 0.0001 PI 1387/209  <0.0001 Ig3* 658/219 <0.0001 Ig5* 670/222 0.0010 Ig16* 670/218 0.0040 Ig12* 670/221 0.0524 Ig13* 670/221 0.2023 Ig17* 670/222 0.9243 Ig19* 299/95  0.9785 Ig3** 657/226 <0.0001 Ig5** 669/222 0.0009 Ig16** 669/225 0.0909 Ig12** 669/223 0.9913 Ig13** 669/220 0.1731 Ig17** 668/222 0.0133 Ig19** 299/97  0.7493 *M-isotype antibody **A-isotype antibody

A statistically significant antibody response was found in favour of MS for 23 conjugates out of 33.

As an example, the specificity of the anti-NO-Cys response vis-à-vis the MS was compared with that of the control neurodegenerative diseases in which radical processes were found to be involved: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, epilepsies and Parkinson's disease. The results showed a significant difference in this response between the various pathologies in favour of MS.

Table 2 below shows the relationship between the various forms of MS (P: progressive; R: remittent; RP: remittent progressive; CON: controls) from 16 significant conjugates.

TABLE 2 c njugate n: MS P/CON p1 n: MS R/CON p1 n: MS RP/CON p1 n: MS P/R/RP p2 Aze 259/232 0.0032 164/232 0.0046 111/232 0.4149 259/164/111 0.0343 NOCys 240/234 0.0078 152/234 <0.0001 111/234 0.0073 240/152/111 0.0046 NOTyr  36/135 0.0762  53/135 <0.0001  40/135 <0.0001 36/53/40 0.0494 NO2Tyr  39/126 0.3829  59/126 0.0096  40/126 0.0311 39/59/40 0.0409 NOTrp  38/148 0.5177  54/148 <0.0001  39/148 0.0899 38/54/39 0.0006 NOMet  36/101 0.8718  49/101 0.0005  39/101 0.9574 36/49/39 0.0393 NOAsn  25/101 0.5167  49/101 0.0065  34/101 0.6982 25/49/34 0.0380 Ach 117/229 0.5938 112/229 <0.0001  71/229 0.1375 117/112/71  <0.0001 PI 253/209 <0.0001 161/209 <0.0001 109/209 0.1040 253/161/109 0.0117 Ig12* 110/221 0.1162 107/221 0.0412  68/221 0.4858 110/107/68  0.0290 Ig17* 110/222 0.0002 107/222 0.4582  68/222 0.2827 110/107/68  0.0123 Ig5** 109/222 0.0549 107/222 0.9743  68/222 0.0016 109/107/68  0.0406 Ig16** 109/225 0.2218 107/225 0.0067  68/225 0.2997 109/107/68  0.0491 Ig12** 109/223 0.1433 107/223 0.0312  68/223 0.2231 109/107/68  0.0185 Ig13** 109/220 0.6407 107/220 0.0001  68/220 0.1543 109/107/68  0.0124 Ig19** 50/97 0.2028 73/97 0.0173 42/97 0.8779 50/73/42 0.0151 1 Mann-Whitney test 2 Kruskal-Wallis test *M-isotype antibody **A-isotype antibody

FIG. 1 shows the distribution of the data for each form of MS and the controls.

Antigen NO2Tyr NOTrp Ach Ig16 1 p 2 0.0409 0.0006 <0.0001 0.0491 n MS P 39 38 117 109 n MS R 59 54 112 107 n MS RP 40 39 71 68 n Control 126 148 229 225 (1 A-isotype antibody; 2 Kruskal-Wallis test)

Each conjugate discriminates, in a particular manner, the clinical forms of MS:

The anti-NO2-Tyr antibodies are particularly pertinent for discriminating the progressive and remittent-progressive forms (Mann-Whitney p between these two samples=0.0167).

The low values for the progressive MSs are noted.

The anti-NO-Trp antibodies are good indicators for discriminating the progressive and remittent forms (Mann-Whitney p<0.0001).

The anti-Ach antibodies are pertinent for discriminating the remittent form from the two other forms (Mann-Whitney p<0.0001).

The anti-A-isotype Ig16 antibodies are pertinent for discriminating the progressive and remittent forms (Mann-Whitney p<0.01).

These circulating antibodies enable the forms of MS and above all the passage of one progressive form to another (remittent form/progressive form) to be discriminated. It is not possible to identify this progression by any other current clinical or exploratory approach.

EXAMPLE 2

Quantification of Circulating Antibodies in ALS

FIGS. 2 to 4 demonstrate the 3 classes of ALS:

-   -   Class 1, which is constituted by 39% of the sera tested (118 in         total), is characterised by high values for the following         antigens: FarCys, Ig3, Ig5, Ig16, Ig12, Ig13 and to a lesser         degree Ig17 (for all these Ig, the antibodies detected are of         the A-isotype)-cf. FIG. 2     -   Class 2, which is constituted by 34% of the sera tested, is         characterised by low values for the whole of the 21 antigens         (with medians<0 for 19 of them). Only FarCys and Pl attain the         same level as the controls—cf. FIG. 3     -   Class 3, which is constituted by 27% of the sera tested, is         characterised by high values, above all for the following         labels: Ole, Aze, MDA, PI, NOCys, Ig3, Ig16, Ig12, Ig13, Ig17         (for all these Igs, the antibodies detected are of the         M-isotype) and to a lesser degree Ig5 (for this Ig, the antibody         detected is of the A-isotype)—cf. FIG. 4.

These biological profiles are to be attached to various progressive types of the ALS.

Moreover, 80% of the patients tested remain in the same group of origin during the clinical progression of their disease.

EXAMPLE 3

Quantification of the Circulating Antibodies in RA

In RA (all stages and progressions together), the significant antibodies are the antibodies which are directed against the fatty acids, azelaic acid, farnesyl-cysteine, malondialdehyde, phosphatidylinositol, NO-cysteine, NO-phenylalanine and the immunoglobulins Ig3 (A-isotype and M-isotype antibodies), Ig5 (A-isotype and M-isotype antibodies), Ig12 (A-isotype and M-isotype antibodies), Ig13 (M-isotype antibodies), Ig17 (M-isotype antibodies) and Ig19 (A-isotype antibodies), as Table 3 shows below:

TABLE 3 Conjugate n CON n RA p Pal 238 251 <0.0001 Myr 234 251 <0.0001 Ole 226 251 <0.0001 FarCys 235 250 0.0005 Aze 232 251 <0.0001 MDA 206 239 <0.0001 Ach 229 251 0.9593 PI 209 251 <0.0001 NOCys 234 251 <0.0001 NOTyr 135 86 0.1471 NO2Tyr 126 98 0.7411 NOTrp 148 88 0.2906 NOMet 101 84 0.2822 NOHis 147 100 0.6778 NOPhe 116 86 0.0376 NOAsn 101 86 0.7968 NOArg 81 86 0.8052 NOBSA 135 100 NS NOCr 46 77 0.2909 Ig3* 219 248 <0.0001 Ig5* 222 251 0.0002 Ig16* 218 251 0.0772 Ig12* 221 251 <0.0001 Ig13* 221 251 0.0003 Ig17* 222 251 0.0005 Ig19* 95 133 0.8907 Ig3** 226 248 <0.0001 Ig5** 222 251 0.0009 Ig16** 225 251 0.2308 Ig12** 223 251 0.0140 Ig13** 220 251 0.0967 Ig17** 222 251 0.2993 Ig19** 97 133 0.0363 *M-isotype antibody **A-isotype antibody

It thus appears that the titres of circulating M-isotype antibodies are an aid to the supervision of subjects ill with RA.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES

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1. A method of detecting antibodies which are associated with the occurrence or the progression of Multiple Sclerosis in a biological fluid, which comprises the following steps: placing said fluid in contact with each one of the following antigens: Pl, Ach, Aze, NO-Cys, NO-Tyr, NO-Trp, NO2-Tyr, NO-Asn, NO-Met, Ig5, Ig12, Ig13, Ig16, Ig17 and Ig19, wherein Pl, Ach, Aze, NO-Cys, NO-Tyr, NO-Trp, NO2-Tyr, NO-Asn, NO-Met are non-bacterial antigens and wherein Ig5, Ig12, Ig13, Ig16, Ig17 and Ig19 are bacterial antigens, and revealing the complexes which are formed between said antigens and the corresponding antibodies, wherein said antibodies are of the A-isotype for bacterial antigens Ig5, Ig12, Ig13, Ig16 and Ig19, and of the M-isotype for bacterial antigens Ig12 and Ig17.
 2. The method according to claim 1, in which the non-bacterial antigens other than NO-BSA are coupled to a carrier molecule.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said carrier molecule is bovine serum albumin.
 4. The method according to claim 1, in which the complex which is formed is revealed with the aid of an anti-human immunoglobin antibody of the M-isotype or of the A-isotype, said antibody being labelled.
 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said antibody is labeled by an enzyme.
 6. The method according to claim 1, in which the enzyme is peroxidase.
 7. The method according to claim 1, which is carried out with the aid of a solid support.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said solid support is a microtitration plate.
 9. A method of detecting antibodies which are associated with the occurrence or the progression of Amyotrophical Lateral Sclerosis in a biological fluid, which comprises the following steps: placing said fluid in contact with each one of the following antigens: Ole, Pl, MDA, Aze, NO-Cys, FarCys, Ig3, Ig5, Ig12, Ig13, Ig16 and Ig17, wherein Ole, Pl, MDA, Aze, NO-Cys, FarCys are non-bacterial antigens and wherein Ig3, Ig5, Ig12, Ig13, Ig16 and Ig17 are bacterial antigens, and revealing the complexes which are formed between said antigens and the corresponding antibodies, wherein said antibodies are of the A-isotype for bacterial antigens Ig3, Ig5, Ig12, Ig13, Ig16 and Ig17, and of the M-isotype for bacterial antigens Ig3, Ig12, Ig13, Ig16 and Ig17.
 10. The method according to claim 9, in which the non-bacterial antigens other than NO-BSA are coupled to a carrier molecule.
 11. The method according to claim 9, in which the complex which is formed is revealed with the aid of an anti-human immunoglobin antibody of the M-isotype or of the A-isotype, said antibody being labelled.
 12. The method according to claim 9, in which the enzyme is peroxidase.
 13. The method according to claim 9, which is carried out with the aid of a solid support.
 14. A method of detecting antibodies which are associated with the occurrence or the progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis in a biological fluid, which comprises the following steps: placing said fluid in contact with each one of the following antigens: Pal, Ole, Myr, Pl, MDA, FarCys, Aze, NO-Cys, NO-Phe, Ig3, Ig5, Ig12, Ig13, Ig17 and Ig19, wherein Pal, Ole, Myr. Pl, MDA, FarCys, Aze, NO-Cys, NO-Phe are non-bacterial antigens and wherein Ig3, Ig5, Ig12, Ig13, Ig17 and Ig19 are bacterial antigens, and revealing the complexes which are formed between said antigens and the corresponding antibodies, wherein said antibodies are of the A-isotype for bacterial antigens Ig3, Ig5, Ig12 and Ig19, and of the M-isotype for bacterial antigens Ig3, Ig5, Ig12, Ig13 and Ig17.
 15. The method according to claim 14, in which the non-bacterial antigens other than NO-BSA are coupled to a carrier molecule.
 16. The method according to claim 14, in which the complex which is formed is revealed with the aid of an anti-human immunoglobin antibody of the M-isotype or of the A-isotype, said antibody being labelled.
 17. The method according to claim 14, in which the enzyme is peroxidase.
 18. The method according to claim 14, which is carried out with the aid of a solid support.
 19. A method for diagnosing the occurrence or the progression of Multiple Sclerosis in a subject, said method comprising: (a) placing a biological fluid of said subject in contact with each one of the antigens as defined in claim 1; (b) detecting circulating antibodies by revealing the complexes which are formed between the antigens and the corresponding antibodies as defined in claim 1; and (c) expressing and comparing the results of the detected circulating antibodies with respect to a control population.
 20. A method for diagnosing the occurrence or the progression of Amyotrophical Lateral Sclerosis in a subject, said method comprising: (a) placing a biological fluid of said subject in contact with each one of the antigens as defined in claim 9; (b) detecting circulating antibodies by revealing the complexes which are formed between the antigens and the corresponding antibodies as defined in claim 9; and (c) expressing and comparing the results of the detected circulating antibodies with respect to a control population.
 21. A method for diagnosing the occurrence or the progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis in a subject, said method comprising: (a) placing a biological fluid of said subject in contact with each one of the antigens as defined in claim 14; (b) detecting circulating antibodies by revealing the complexes which are formed between the antigens and the corresponding antibodies as defined in claim 14; and (c) expressing and comparing the results of the detected circulating antibodies with respect to a control population.
 22. A kit for the implementation of the method according to claim 1, which comprises each one of the following antigens: Pl, Ach, Aze, NO-Cys, NO-Tyr, NO-Trp, NO2-Tyr, NO-Asn, NO-Met, Ig5, Ig12, Ig13, Ig16, Ig17 and Ig19.
 23. The kit according to claim 22, in which the non-bacterial antigens other than NO-BSA are coupled to a carrier molecule.
 24. The kit according to claim 23, wherein said carrier molecule is bovine serum albumin.
 25. The kit according to claim 22, which also comprises at least one antibody selected from the group consisting of anti-human immunoglobin antibodies of the M-isotype and anti-human immunoglobin antibodies of the A-isotype.
 26. A kit for the implementation of the method according to claim 9, which comprises each one of the following antigens: Ole, Pl, MDA, Aze, NO-Cys, FarCys, Ig3, Ig5, Ig12, Ig13, Ig16 and Ig17.
 27. A kit for the implementation of the method according to claim 14, which comprises each one of the following antigens: Pal, Ole, Myr , Pl, MDA, FarCys, Aze, NO-Cys, NO-Phe, Ig3, Ig5, Ig12, Ig13, Ig17 and Ig19. 